Best Master's in Multiple Disabilities Special Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   Endicott College

   Beverly, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 36Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Special Education: Moderate Disabilities Master's Program
   • Online
   About the program

   Endicott College offers a Master of Education in Special Education focused on Moderate Disabilities, a 36-credit fully online program that pairs licensure preparation with a substantial field commitment. The core track leads to initial or professional Massachusetts licensure in Moderate Disabilities at the PreK-8 and 5-12 levels, with the initial pathway requiring the Communication and Literacy MTEL. A 300-hour practicum, including at least 100 hours of full teaching responsibility in the role and grade level of the license sought, keeps the degree grounded in real classroom practice. Non-licensure concentrations in Social Emotional Learning and Social Justice extend the program to educators pursuing broader professional growth. The mix of online flexibility and a hands-on practicum reads as a route into Massachusetts special education licensure for candidates balancing study with work. This program offers a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education in Massachusetts.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 36 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
2. 2

   Molloy University

   Rockville Centre, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 3Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Teaching Students with Disabilities All Grades PreK-12, M.S. (Professional Certification)
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Molloy University offers a Master of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities across all grades PreK-12, a professional-certification program aimed at educators who already hold initial certification in another subject area. Working through the NYSED TEACH Online system, the degree leads to New York State professional certification, and a post-master's Severe and Multiple Disabilities Extension adds a specialized annotation for teachers already certified in special education. Fieldwork unfolds in three phases with authentic in- and out-of-classroom experience, project-based group work, and community outreach, grounding the degree in applied practice. The online professional-certification track is paired with hybrid dual-certification options that combine special education with Childhood or Adolescent content areas such as Biology, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Spanish. The layered structure reads as a program built for advancing and cross-certifying current New York teachers. This program offers a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
3. 3

   Teachers College at Columbia University

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 2Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Severe or Multiple Disabilities
   • New York State-approved teacher preparation program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Teachers College, Columbia University offers a Master of Arts in Severe or Multiple Disabilities, a focused on-campus program for educators who already hold or are eligible for New York State initial certification in special education or a related area. The 32-point degree is designed to be completed in roughly one year, running from fall through summer, which frames it as an intensive add-on rather than a multi-year commitment. Coursework is paired with practicum experience in both inclusive and specialized settings, giving candidates supervised time with the students they are preparing to teach. Completion leads to a New York State Annotation in the Teaching of Students with Multiple or Severe Disabilities, a formal credential layered onto an existing certification. The combination of a short, structured timeline and a specialized annotation reads as a program for committed teachers sharpening their focus on students with the most complex needs. It is a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education at the master's level, based in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
4. 4

   Syracuse University

   Syracuse, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $78,560Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Inclusive Special Education (Severe/Multiple Disabilities)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Syracuse University lists a Master of Science in Inclusive Special Education with a focus on Severe/Multiple Disabilities in its course catalog, an on-campus program centered on teaching students with the most significant support needs. At the time of research the catalog noted that this program was not currently accepting new applications. The available materials describe the specialization but do not detail its licensure or accreditation outcomes. It is a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education at the master's level, based in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Syracuse, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,560, roughly $82,054 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
5. 5

   Canisius University

   Buffalo, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 2Master's/yr
   • $76,490Metro teacher pay
   • Advanced Special Education (M.S.)
   • Online
   About the program

   Canisius University offers a Master of Science in Advanced Special Education, a 30-credit degree built for teachers who already hold initial certification and want to deepen their expertise across the disability spectrum. Admission assumes candidates arrive with initial certification in Childhood Education and Childhood Special Education or in Adolescence Education and Teaching Students With Disabilities, and the program builds on that foundation to prepare educators for students with mild to severe disabilities. Completion leads to professional certification in Teaching Students With Disabilities and eligibility for New York State certification. Delivered fully online and asynchronously since Fall 2022, it can be finished in one to two years and was recognized in U.S. News and World Report's 2024 Best Online Master's in Education Programs. The design reads as an advancement credential for practicing New York special educators. As a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education, it adds to the master's-level multiple disabilities special education options in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
6. 6

   Johns Hopkins University

   Baltimore, MDPrivate nonprofit

   • 2Master's/yr
   • $76,400Metro teacher pay
   • Special Education, Master of Science (Severe Disabilities track)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Johns Hopkins University offers a Master of Science in Special Education with a Severe Disabilities track, an on-campus program aimed at educators and specialists who want depth in complex disability rather than a first teaching license. The severe disabilities focus carries two emphases, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis, signaling a clinical, intervention-oriented orientation for professionals serving students from birth through adulthood. A parallel Mild-to-Moderate Disabilities track broadens the department's reach. The program does not lead to teacher certification and instead prepares behavior specialists and related professionals to work with students who have severe disabilities. Delivered part time at two courses per semester across fall, spring, and summer, it finishes in about two years, or three with practicum electives, fitting professionals who are already employed in the field. As a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education, it adds to the master's-level multiple disabilities special education options in Maryland.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,400, roughly $73,119 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
7. 7

   Lee University

   Cleveland, TNPrivate nonprofit

   • 15Master's/yr
   • $59,330Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education, Special Education, Comprehensive Disabilities, K-12 Licensure
   About the program

   Lee University offers a Master of Education in Special Education with a Comprehensive Disabilities, K-12 concentration, aimed at educators preparing to teach students with more significant disabilities. The program leads to Tennessee K-12 special education licensure in Comprehensive Disabilities, giving it a clear credentialing purpose for teachers who want that authority. The M.Ed. track serves candidates who are already licensed, while a parallel Master of Arts in Teaching version covers those seeking initial licensure, so the department meets teachers at different points in their careers. Coursework blends special education pedagogy with foundations in adjacent fields, including Introduction to Communication Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis. That mix reads as a program grounded in the practical, cross-disciplinary skills classrooms with complex learners actually demand. As a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education, it adds to the master's-level multiple disabilities special education options in Tennessee.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Cleveland, TN, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,330, roughly $67,359 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
8. 8

   Ball State University

   Muncie, INPublicOnline available

   • 877Master's/yr
   • $58,610Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Special Education
   • Online
   About the program

   Ball State University offers a Master of Arts in Special Education delivered fully online, built for practicing and prospective educators who want to specialize deeply in a particular disability population. The program spans an unusually broad menu of concentrations, from Autism and Deaf Education to Early Childhood Special Education, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, and Special Education Administration, letting teachers align coursework with the students they serve. Its Intense Interventions track, requiring at least fifteen hours in the major area plus nine in a second special-education area, prepares candidates to teach students with severe and multiple disabilities. Post-baccalaureate licensure options, including a License Addition for Exceptional Needs, connect the degree to Indiana teaching credentials. The result is a flexible online path that reads as a way for working teachers to add credentialed expertise without leaving the classroom. It is a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education at the master's level, based in Indiana.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 877 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Muncie, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,610, roughly $66,490 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
9. 9

   William Carey University

   Hattiesburg, MSPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 58Master's/yr
   • $47,650Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Mild and Moderate Disabilities
   • Online
   About the program

   William Carey University offers a Master of Education in Mild and Moderate Disabilities, a 30-hour online program built for speed and stackable credentials. Delivered fully online through Canvas with no synchronous meetings required, it can be completed in as little as twelve to fifteen months, an arrangement that suits busy classroom teachers. The base program leads to Mild/Moderate Disabilities licensure, and six hours of directed electives let candidates add an endorsement in Gifted Studies or Severe/Profound Disabilities or prepare for the Foundations of Reading exam. The Severe and Profound add-on assumes candidates already hold a Mild and Moderate Disabilities endorsement and includes a required practicum in a severe/profound classroom. The design reads as a practice-focused, self-paced path for teachers seeking to broaden their special education credentials efficiently. This program offers a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education in Mississippi.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 58 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Hattiesburg, MS, where elementary teachers earn a median $47,650, roughly $54,374 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
10. 10

    Binghamton University

    Vestal, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Special Education, All Grades
    • Online
    About the program

    Binghamton University offers a Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Special Education, All Grades, an advanced program built for teachers who already hold or are pursuing initial New York State certification. Delivered fully online and asynchronously, the 36-credit degree lets working educators fit graduate study around classroom schedules while moving toward certification in Students with Disabilities across PK-12. The design leans applied rather than theoretical, pairing coursework with a required internship placement and a capstone project that ties the study back to practice. A standard that students maintain at least a B-minus in every course to progress signals a program focused on readiness for demanding classrooms. Registered as an advanced preparation program with New York State, it reads as a credential for teachers deepening their expertise with students who have disabilities. It is a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education at the master's level, based in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
11. 11

    Manhattan University

    Riverdale, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • M.S.Ed. - Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6) / Adolescence Education-Students with Disabilities Generalist (Grades 7-12)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Manhattan University offers a Master of Science in Education in Students with Disabilities, an on-campus, 39-credit program that prepares candidates for New York State initial certification as teachers of students with disabilities. Two tracks, Childhood Special Education for Grades 1-6 and an Adolescence Special Education Generalist path for Grades 7-12, let candidates align the degree with the age group they intend to teach, though no distinct severe or multiple disabilities concentration is described. Certification requires passing the Educating All Students test and the required Content Specialty Tests. The program is also available as a five-year combined bachelor's and master's pathway totaling 148 to 154 credits, an option that reads as an efficient route for undergraduates committed early to special education. The overall design points squarely at initial New York classroom certification. As a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education, it adds to the master's-level multiple disabilities special education options in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
12. 12

    Governors State University

    University Park, ILPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Multicategorical Special Education
    • Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Governors State University offers a Master of Arts in Multicategorical Special Education, an online program designed to open several doors at once for teachers moving into special education. Its flexibility is the point: candidates can pursue a 36-credit Initial Licensure track leading to the Illinois Professional Educator License, a 34-credit Advanced Licensure track for those who already hold a PEL, or shorter endorsement-only options including the Learning Behavior Specialist I and the Director of Special Education endorsements. The LBS1 endorsement it delivers covers teaching students across multiple disability categories, including multiple disabilities, reflecting the multicategorical framing of the degree. Coursework blends online synchronous and asynchronous formats, and the program positions itself explicitly as a response to Illinois's statewide special education teacher shortage. Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, it reads as a versatile, workforce-minded entry into the field. As a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education, it adds to the master's-level multiple disabilities special education options in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
13. 13

    Dominican University New York

    Orangeburg, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education with Severe/Multiple Disabilities annotation
    • On-campus
    About the program

    D'Youville University offers a Master of Science in Education leading to New York State certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities, with an optional Severe/Multiple Disabilities annotation for candidates already holding SWD certification. The structure, a core certification path plus a stackable annotation, lets both new special educators and already-certified teachers use the program to move toward higher-need classrooms. Coursework follows the university's quarter-system academic calendar, giving the on-campus program a distinctive rhythm. The annotation option in particular reads as a targeted way for practicing SWD teachers to add credentialed expertise in severe and multiple disabilities. This program offers a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
14. 14

    Ashland University

    Ashland, OHPrivate nonprofit

    • 10Master's/yr
    About the program

    Ashland University is listed as offering graduate study in the education and teaching of individuals with multiple disabilities. It is a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education at the master's level, based in Ohio.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
15. 15

    Greensboro College

    Greensboro, NCPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education, Adapted Curriculum
    • Online
    About the program

    Greensboro College offers a Master of Education in Special Education built for practicing North Carolina special education teachers, with both an Adapted Curriculum track and a General Curriculum track of 30 hours each. Delivered online and designed to finish in about 18 months, the program fits the rhythms of teachers already working in classrooms and looking to advance without stepping away. It targets a concrete outcome, supporting the move to a master's-level SP1 license while also positioning graduates for National Board Certification. The degree culminates in a research presentation, and its willingness to accept up to nine transfer credits eases the path for candidates bringing prior graduate work. The Adapted Curriculum emphasis points specifically toward serving students with more significant disabilities, making this a practical credential for teachers committed to that population. As a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education, it adds to the master's-level multiple disabilities special education options in North Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
16. 16

    Northwest Missouri State University

    Maryville, MOPublic

    • 40Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education in Special Education with Certification
    • Online
    About the program

    Northwest Missouri State University offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education with Certification, a 100% online program designed to carry candidates all the way to a first special education credential. Concentrated on Mild to Moderate Disabilities on a Cross Categorical K-12 basis, the degree leads to the Special Education Initial Professional Certificate from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Its 60-credit, twenty-course structure includes an eight-credit teaching internship for candidates not already teaching, plus a required capstone, and can be finished in as few as eighteen months. Accreditation through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation and the Higher Learning Commission signals a fully vetted educator-preparation pathway. The combination of an embedded internship and online delivery reads as a program built for career-changers entering special education. It is a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education at the master's level, based in Missouri.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 40 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
17. 17

    Wright State University-Main Campus

    Dayton, OHPublic

    • 2Master's/yr
    About the program

    Wright State University-Main Campus is listed as offering graduate study in the education and teaching of individuals with multiple disabilities. As a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education, it adds to the master's-level multiple disabilities special education options in Ohio.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
18. 18

    Upper Iowa University

    Fayette, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) with Instructional Strategist II: Intellectual Disabilities K-12 emphasis
    • Online
    About the program

    Upper Iowa University offers a Master of Education with an Instructional Strategist II: Intellectual Disabilities K-12 emphasis, a fully online degree structured around the pace of a working teacher's life. Coursework runs in eight-week sessions, with a six-week accelerated summer term, so candidates can layer graduate study onto full teaching schedules. Eleven areas of emphasis, ranging from Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate to Reading, Talented and Gifted, and Teacher Leadership, let educators tailor the degree toward classroom specialization or leadership roles. The Intellectual Disabilities emphasis leads to the Iowa BOEE Instructional Strategist II endorsement for teaching students with significant cognitive and multiple disabilities and includes a required graded Clinical Teaching Experience. Together these features read as a program designed to move licensed Iowa teachers into higher-need special education roles. It is a master's degree in multiple disabilities special education at the master's level, based in Iowa.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site

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